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The answer within

What if we didn’t need to change things, or gain things, in order to feel happier, stronger and less anxious? What if we simply needed to tap back into ourselves? Feeling lost and overwhelmed, Ali Roff retreated to southern Spain to embark on a week of self-discovery

Ali Roff

well travelled

What does your soul yearn for? I was asked this question as we set out. ‘Freedom,’ I said. Then I blurted out something about feeling stuck; not knowing what I wanted but that I felt there was more to life. I wanted to travel, but then I mumbled something about the pressure to have a big house in the suburbs… Where did that come from? ‘I feel trapped by what society expects and views as “right” and “normal’’ – the 2.4 children; even the commute to work.’ And, as I sat listening to my companions, five women I had just met, share what their souls yearned for, I realised that we all felt the same.

As we ate our first meal, a delicious, plant-based feast, I pondered the week ahead of me. I’d signed up to The Quarter Life Health Project in southern Spain, which promised to help millennials like me who felt stuck, with the help of yoga, meditation, life coaching, perhaps. It sounded great – just what I needed. Life had been getting on top of me. I was facing a huge career decision, dealing with negativity in my friendship circle and planning my wedding. My anxiety levels were sky high and a voice inside told me I’d never achieve the dreams I wanted to work towards; that I was a hopeless human being; that I couldn’t do anything right. I actually texted a friend apologising for forgetting something by saying, ‘Sorry – I’m a shit person.’ Now, there’s an example of low self-worth if you ever heard one.